Apart from the introduction of ABS (anti-skid braking systems), braking systems in cars have changed little in over 50 years. As has been the case throughout this last half-century, all current systems use an hydraulic master cylinder which applies pressure in proportion to force on the brake pedal. The pressure in the brake lines causes movement of the pistons in the slave cylinders located in each wheel calliper, in turn applying the brake pads to the discs (or shoes to the drums, in older systems).

A vacuum brake booster is also fitted to all cars to reduce the force required on the brake pedal. And ABS? - it allows the automatic modulation of fluid pressure in the slave cylinders of individual wheel brakes, to prevent wheel lock-up.

Now, in the Bosch Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) system, the control system becomes electronic. Further, the control logic is quite different to a traditional braking system, as SBC integrates a variety of other car control systems into the one architecture.

SBC represents a revolution in automotive braking - and it's just been released in the SL-Class Mercedes production model.